FOCUS - MARCH 2019 19 n Sunday March 3rd, the Anglican Church of the Ascension in Port Perry will be cel- ebrating its 150th anniversary. This historic church holds a unique place in the history of the community. There are several references to the Anglicansofthisregionholdingmeet- ings at the homes of various members as early as 1856. Reverend Pentland was ministering them. The Diocese of Toronto officially recognized the congregation in 1859. By this time arrangements had been made with the Presbyterians to hold services in their church in Prince Albert, with the Reverend Forneri as their minister. On Monday July 2, 1866, the Anglican parishioners organized a building committee to look into build- ing a church in Port Perry. Henry Charles, the owner of the St. Charles Hotel was elected as the chairman of the building committee. John Ham Perry had inherited a large portion of what is now down- town Port Perry from his father Port Perry’s founder, Peter Perry. John Perry donated land on North Street to the Anglicans. Tenders for a building were called for and on July 26, the tender of Harrison Maw and Sons was ac- cepted and work began immediately. InDecember1866,justasthebuild- ers were about to put the roof rafters in place, a disastrous storm with gale force winds swept through Port Perry. Almost all the brickwork was blown down. Work on the rebuilding did not begin until July 1867. Leaders of the Church of England recommended that the 12th century church at Longstanton in Cambridge- shire be used as a model for churches in Upper Canada. This simple design was used as the basis of the Port Perry church. Local yellow brick was used in its construction. This brick has been used in many of the local buildings including several Cochrane Street homes, the Town Hall 1873 and the St. Charles Hotel, which is now the Remax building. As construction was nearing com- pletion, a fund raising musical con- cert was held in the unfinished build- ing on September 1867. However the church was not ready for its first official service of worship until 1869. This first service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on February 28, 1869, but a heavy snowfall the day before prevented the dignitaries from arriv- ing on time. A full congregation of 200 waited patiently. The local newspaper commented, “At about eleven o’clock, the Arch Deacon of Toronto and the young pastor entered, having battled Patrick Bennett Real Estate Lawyer (905) 620-4499 ext 222 pbennett@mbjlawyers.com Brooklin 79 Baldwin St N Brooklin ON L1M 1A4 Tel (905) 620-4499 Port Perry 229 Mary St. Port PerryON L9L 1B7 Tel (905) 985-4141 www.mbjlawyers.com Port Perry’s Anglican Church of the Ascension celebrates 150 years of worship ...................... Please turn to page 20 Ascension in Port Perry will be cel-